1 Thessalonians 4 9

1 Thessalonians 4:9 kjv

But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

1 Thessalonians 4:9 nkjv

But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;

1 Thessalonians 4:9 niv

Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.

1 Thessalonians 4:9 esv

Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,

1 Thessalonians 4:9 nlt

But we don't need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another.

1 Thessalonians 4 verses

1 Thessalonians 4 9 Meaning

First Thessalonians 4:9 asserts that the believers in Thessalonica already possess an intrinsic understanding and active practice of brotherly love, rendering further written instruction from Paul on this specific subject unnecessary. This capability is attributed directly to them being "taught by God," indicating a divine enablement and an inward working of the Holy Spirit that guides their communal affections.

1 Thessalonians 4 9 Context

First Thessalonians is one of Paul's earliest epistles, written to a church he founded in Thessalonica. He addresses various matters concerning their nascent faith, practical living, and eschatological hope. Chapter 4 begins with Paul transitioning from general exhortations about walking in a manner pleasing to God (v. 1-2) to specific ethical instructions. Before verse 9, Paul strongly urged the believers to abstain from sexual immorality (v. 3-8), distinguishing them from the surrounding pagan culture. Verse 9 then marks a positive shift, commending their existing virtue of brotherly love, indicating an area where they are already excelling and thus need less corrective instruction. It naturally leads into Paul's further encouragement for them to "excel still more" in this love (v. 10) and live tranquil, industrious lives (v. 11-12) before moving to the resurrection and Christ's return (v. 13ff).

1 Thessalonians 4 9 Word analysis

• Now concerning (Περὶ δὲ, Peri de): A common Pauline transitional phrase, signaling a shift in subject or a response to an unstated question or report regarding the Thessalonians' conduct. It introduces a new topic with emphasis.

• brotherly love (τῆς φιλαδελφίας, tēs philadelphias):

  • Word: philadelphia (Greek: φιλαδελφία). A compound noun formed from philos (friend, loving) and adelphos (brother).
  • Significance: Specifically refers to affection, love, or devotion toward one's siblings or, in the New Testament, fellow members of the Christian community. It emphasizes the familial bond within the Church. While agape denotes a divine, unconditional love that extends to all, philadelphia focuses on the love shared between believers, a distinctive mark of Christian fellowship. It's a natural outcome of regeneration, fostered by the Holy Spirit.

• you have no need for anyone to write to you (οὐ χρείαν ἔχετε γράφειν ὑμῖν, ou chreian echete graphein hymin):

  • Significance: This is a commendation, not a lack of concern or refusal to instruct. Paul affirms their competence and the commendable state of their love for each other. Unlike the previous topic (sexual purity, where they did need instruction), their brotherly love is strong, suggesting active practice rather than mere intellectual knowledge. This acknowledges that the core essence of their faith is rightly manifesting.

• for you yourselves have been taught by God (αὐτοὶ γὰρ ὑμεῖς θεοδίδακτοι ἔστε, autoi gar hymeis theodidaktoi este):

  • Word: theodidaktoi (Greek: θεοδίδακτοι). A unique compound adjective, meaning "God-taught" or "taught by God." It is used only here in the New Testament.
  • Significance: This is the profound source of their philadelphia. Their love is not merely a human endeavor, a moral philosophy, or a result of Paul's initial teaching alone. Instead, it signifies direct, internal instruction from God himself, primarily through the indwelling Holy Spirit. This points to the new covenant promise where God's law is written on hearts (Jer 31:33-34, Heb 8:10-11) and all God's children are taught by Him (Isa 54:13, Jn 6:45, 1 Jn 2:27). It confirms that their faith is genuine and empowered divinely.

• to love one another (εἰς τὸ ἀγαπᾶν ἀλλήλους, eis to agapan allēlous):

  • Word: agapan allēlous (Greek: ἀγαπᾶν ἀλλήλους). This uses the verb form of agape, the highest form of love, which is selfless, sacrificial, and divine in origin. allēlous means "one another."
  • Significance: While philadelphia was specified earlier for brotherly affection, the shift to agape for the action of loving indicates that philadelphia is a specific manifestation or outworking of agape within the Christian community. This phrase is a cornerstone of Christian ethics, highlighted by Jesus as His new commandment and the distinguishing mark of His disciples (Jn 13:34-35). Being "God-taught" enables them to perform this divine love in their practical relationships.

1 Thessalonians 4 9 Bonus section

• The structure of "Now concerning... you have no need..." is a standard rhetorical device of Paul, found also in 1 Corinthians (e.g., 1 Cor 7:1; 8:1), often implying that he is addressing a specific point they might have asked about or about which he received a report. In this case, it indicates their evident and commendable practice of philadelphia.
• The fact that they are theodidaktoi for "loving one another" (agape) implies that this characteristic is a fruit of their conversion and a sign of the New Covenant at work. It signifies the Holy Spirit's role in guiding and enabling the believers to live out their faith authentically in their community. This profound divine teaching allows them to not just understand but embody brotherly love.
• Paul often follows commendation with further exhortation to "excel still more" (as seen in the very next verse, 1 Thess 4:10). This indicates that while their love is commendable, Christian growth is a continuous process of pressing forward and deepening their spiritual walk.
• The emphasis on philadelphia (brotherly love) within the church community, yet the action word agape (divine love), shows that the love within the family of God is a special and intense application of God's overarching agape love, driven by divine instruction.

1 Thessalonians 4 9 Commentary

First Thessalonians 4:9 is a deeply affirming statement, setting a pastoral tone of commendation. Paul acknowledges that the Thessalonian believers already grasp and actively demonstrate the vital practice of brotherly love, philadelphia, among themselves. This commendation contrasts with the previous verses where Paul found it necessary to give specific instructions regarding sexual morality, an area perhaps influenced by their pagan background. Here, he offers reassurance that their spiritual growth in relational affection is genuine and impressive. The profound reason for this successful demonstration of love is explicitly stated: they are theodidaktoi—taught by God. This signifies an internal, divine instruction mediated by the Holy Spirit, enabling them to understand and live out Christian agape within their community. It implies that true Christian love isn't just a learned moral code but a divinely instilled characteristic flowing from regeneration. The verse is thus a celebration of their spiritual maturity and a testament to God's active work within their hearts, making them exemplary in their mutual affection.

• Example: When a church community spontaneously organizes aid for a struggling member without being explicitly asked or directed by leadership, it reflects this "God-taught" love.